NC 1780 $50

Title

North Carolina paper currency, Bill of Credit value fifty dollars

Maker

James Davis, printer

Material

Type on laid paper, ink

Origin

North Carolina, New Bern

Date:

1780

Dimensions:

OH:  2 ½” (6.4 cm); OW:  3 1/8” (8.0 cm)

Description:

Typeset fifty-dollar Bill of Credit issued by North Carolina with borders all around; border on top printed “Death to COUNTERFEIT”, on left “north carolina currency” and on right “Fifty—Dollars.” Printed text: “fifty dollars. / No. 7127  / State of North-Carolina./  This  Bill intitles [sic] the Bearer to receive Fifty/ Spanish milled Dollars, or the Value thereof,/ in Gold or Silver, agreeable to an Act of Assembly/ passed at new bern the 10^th Day of May,’ 1780.” Typeset motto in lower left corner: “Fundamentum mihi /aere Perennius” (A foundation for me more enduring than bronze). Ink signature: “Joseph Leech” Reverse: “Fifty Dollars/ Printed by James Davis/ 1780.”

Donor:

Paul M. Cox

Relation:

Comments:

 £1,240,000 ($3,100,000) in legal tender Bills of Credit authorized by the May 10, 1780 Act giving the Governor the right to issue more bill. The Governor apparently added to the issue of $25, $100 and $500 bill and created new denominations of $200, $400 and $600. Bills were printed on both sides. This denomination was issued in a series of 8,000. Signers included: John Ashe, Waightsill Avery, Jonathan Cooke, J.W. Caron, James Coor, David Cox, Jr., M. Frank, James Green, Jr., Is. Guion, Joseph Leech, and H. Vipon. Note: Bill laminated in rice paper prior to donation. Currently on display at the New Bern Academy Museum.

Language:

En

Rights:

Permission to use the photograph must be obtained in writing from Tryon Palace Historic Sites & Gardens, New Bern, North Carolina. It must be accompanied by the caption” From the collection of Tryon Palace Historic Sites & Gardens, New Bern, North Carolina; North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, Division of Archive and History.”